Herb VS Tabpub

[1275psi]

26/5/43

Ive lost a day of my notes -oh well -not much happened anyway

I begin a new effort to deal with the allied air in china
25am3, 23 am3a,65 tojo,49 sally, 26 betty,27 lilly attack Ichang today
22 i-15c are shot down for no loss over the field
Wuchow next[:@]

Thursday island we both lightly bomb -he is sneaking in troops by sub I think

Not much else happened really

[1275psi]

27/5/43
Air war in china continues -13 mitchell attack hong kong -21 very poor tojo defend -lost 2 to none shot down.

SS kill 2 ak in singapore hex -grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
its scarily quiet down south.

[1275psi]

28/5/43
Tabpub must be the most cautious player in the matrix universe
Almost 6/43, and no serious invasions yet
Sure -burma grinds on -but I have not really engaged yet here as well.

China -the fighters are now in Hong kong - they sweep wuchow -as promised.
35 tojo -60 oscar, 35 tony sweep - 8 1-16 c disposed off
Mitchells try Hong kong again -no damage

He bombs raehag -it will be a long bombing campaign for sure here.
rangoon resistance has ceased.

Tomorrow we try for his bombers in China.
Lots of air force now in China!

I get to meet tabpub this week -wonder what he will think of Aussie land!

[1275psi]

29/5/43

Terrible day for SS

A tanker, 3 ak sunk on the map today, including the AP at thursday.
Drat

Little else -I bombed heavily in china -he in Burma, Adaman island bombed for the 1st time.

This game goes into hibernation while my esteemed opponent comes down under.
Going to take him to the maritime museum, a game of Aussie rules footy (big game -swans 4th on ladder v Pies -3rd on ladder) and a day boating on Sydney harbour.

Time to get a true phscological profile of my opponent![;)]

[1275psi]

And I like him.[:D]

Well its not every day you get to meet an opponent from the other side of the planet, and then find out that he's very much unlike you expected, but a lot like you hoped!

We had a great time, toured the Museum, had a pie at the footy, and I even got tabpub to eat a vegemite sandwich while fishing on the harbour.

We had a fab time exchanging our take on the game so far -amazing to get glimpses of how he sees the situation to how it really is.

I've got him baffled -he says- on the convoy stuff -where I reckon its going badly
The gilberts bluff apparently is working great!
He admits to a stuff up at Thursday and Rossel.

I think I've been very lucky not to have lost KB several times lately, and the raid to brisbane almost had a classic CV battle on CV battle..

We had great conversations on game mechanics and realism things -boy, we are so like minded, there is no doubt that this game is going to go all the way now..

Turns will keep going slowly over the next few weeks as he continues the holiday.
Aussie is a great place he says -and I think Yanks are fine!!!
When you finally read this mate -thanks !

Now when KB finally gets hammered -I can picture a face to curse!![:'(][:'(][:'(][:'(]

[1275psi]

30/5/43
A fairly quiet day, I do not think we will see a major action until Tabpubs holiday is finished -I hope so anyway

He is bombing burma front line heavily, and clearing mines at moulmien -I think a few naval bombardments are coming my way there
he continues to bomb the solomons and PNG, and his subs get 3 ships today -a tanker included -these are getting very short on numbers now.

I have a fleet in refit in Japan -and its 16 days -all going well until I get new CVs.
This fleet must go to the Indian ocean front.
KB remains at sea -ambush position -location classified!

[1275psi]

31/5/43

As we hit the half way mark in 1943, a snap shot of the war

Burma
The army is in great strength along the river south of Burma
Each base on the coast to the south is well garrisoned as well.
he controls the air totally at the moment
The navy is almost non existant here
daily bombings will take a long, long time to wear me down though

The DEI
Are mainly lightly held, I don't think we are really threatened here
A line of AKs on picket will give me plenty of warning I hope if trouble approaches

The TIMOR/AMbonia/ kendari triangle
A new area of focus
Very heavily held -large bulk of the army air force here
Also KB is lurking here

Solomons
The weight of my defensive effort is here
battle over Thursday island continues -he is SS troop supplying I think -or flying in catalina carried troops
This is how the rossel island troops were delivered -by Catalina he told me over the week end
The navy is here -but mainly in BBs and CAs Junyo and Hiyo are headed to ultimately India

The gilberts are quiet -a gigantic bluff continues -lots of units to recon -but they are all fragments!

Saipan
Is OK -more troops soon to come, and I hope to have a division on each island soon

Phillipines
Is building very nicely

China
Im contesting the air again -a lot of training fighters are graduating by going into combat . he is trying to challenge -but its pretty even
The land battles are a mess

Home
Many, many ships in R and R
All the CVEs and CVLs are here -shokaka is out for the year at least
yammato will never repair in time, but I will have Mutsu soon again
With 2 CV, CVL coming this month I can make plans soon

Intend to by months end form a second big KB -and go to the Indian ocean - and create havoc, and also to send ships into the waters between hawai and the south pacific

Navy
Still in fair shape
Months end plan
KB1 - 6 cv -to operate Solomons area
KB2 -2cv, cvls, cves -to operate Indian ocean
Mini KB 3 -2cv, cves to operate in the eastern areas

Im still a handful I hope.

[1275psi]

been a little lax posting last 2 days

Date is the 3rd now

Shows how much is happening[8|]

Only a couple of things
Burma bombing continues
We spar in the air in China
Kb is edging south down towards Thursday -covering a big convoy of supplies, won't risk her though -just got spotted again (want Tabpub to know that CVs are still about)

A second new KB (mini) is enroute to the Indian theatre, and a third soon to be formed by mid month -going to go due east to beyond Pearl , convoy hunting with this one.

In China a new battle south of Homan seems to be developing[8|]
Last thing my stretched army needs
We are playing PDU off -I got a zillion jacks building -nothing to upgrade to though for some silly reason.

Anyway, its all quiet while Tabpub enjoys his Holiday, we sort of have an agreement to just progress quietly until he is finished his Holiday, I for one do not want him to be too distracted from his time down here!

[1275psi]

A very, very interesting turn today

All over the map little happening, his fleet remains in port -Im pulling my ships back for the battle ahead

last week in a fit of stupidity i sent a large army from kaifeng up to the intersection towards Homan, where only 5 chinese units held the intersection
trouble is army went sideways, around the intersection, so I had to turn around, and go back towards the silly intersection

Tabpub spies an opening[:@]
So after all the moves -he has 2 units in Kafieg -5 at the intersection, and I have 9 divisions there now!
Tomorrow we shock attack -maybe we can trap some chinese units
maybe it will fail, and kafieg will fall!
To the north I shocked due south of chengting - and the sod is threatening to surround me with one lousy unit.
But if i succeed at the intersection tomorrow............
its going to be very interesting!

If I lose this, northern china might well be lost!
Man, I suck at war in china!

[John 3rd]

I have been 'schooled' by Moses several times in China.  I would love to simply agree to YELL stalemate and NEVER do anything there!  I want to fight in the Pacific and NOT with 100,000s of troops...
 

[1275psi]

4/6/43
Got my postings totally stuffed up somewhere, it is the 4th today .

Not much happening on the map, except in China
I shock attack at the intersection on the Homan railway -and drive out Tabpub.
His attack at kaifeng fails!
2 chinese corps are trapped at kaifeng, and to the north I have a chance to trap another one as well
I will hold the intersection, and crush the impertinant chinese.

Wildcats spotted tricomalee.

KB is enroute to Truk
Another Cv task force is gathering at davao -for India front.
11 days, and another can sail
I have just 4 AOs left, so not much long cruising to be able to be done.[:@]

In sharp contrast to PZB, my biggest plane pool is 400 AM2s[8|]
have 150 odd AM3s, 150 odd tonies, 100 tojos, 23 oscars[:(]
I reckon I could sustain his level of combat for about 15 minutes[:'(]

[1275psi]

5/6/43

Tabpub has been ill, finally we get underway again
Its back to the bombs in Burma, Gilli, gilli, over 130 hit there today.

Burma
I can do little here at the moment -still awaiting the fleet to get here, its gathering at davao

DEI
Convoys , still trying my best.

Phillipines
Had another good look -turning into a fortress

Solomons
KB moves back towards Truk
Fuel is in crises in this front -I will get one strike in with the fleet at the moment, then will be crippled.
Fuel is enroute -but its getting so short!

11 days until the major reinforcements arrive.
get them and i will be far happier

His blow must come very, very soon.

[1275psi]

6/6/43
Turn begins with some night bombing in Burma.

Ships spotted south of lunga!, direction, north west -aimed staright at Lunga, or rennel island
Rahaeng is bombed
33rd division is hit hard south of the river.

Then the fun!
just 3 betties and 3 zeros launch from Munda
BB washington is not covered -and SMACK!, I draw 1st blood, a single torp hit.

Gilli, Gilli, is hit very hard
Then more confirmation, 3 betty attack the fleet, 8 wildcat shoot em down
3 more go in, 14 wildcat take 2 out, a DD dodges the torp
In China Pakhoi is all but finished
he bombards at thursday -Im still stronger though!

CHINA
The battle north of Kafieg goes well, I hope to trap 3 units at least
All the planes in china are sent on the journey south, not nearly well trained enough, but they will do for the purpose I have in mind for them.

HOME ISLANDS
15 ss sail, add 9 at truk -they should be some sort of influence

DEI
Finished training here too -its all forces for the solomons!

At the triangle good timing, huge amounts of fuel are about to arrive at ambonia -I divert it towards the war.

SOLOMONS
Well it begins
I will stick to the plan, small attrit raids, then lots of LRCAP over the battle fleet as it goes in, followed by the KB and All the betties.
The Army fighters will be the 1st to be expended...........
I am suspecting that Tabpub is going for another nibble -rennel the target.
KB is on the way, soon to arrive at the Admiralties
His fleet is well spotted, many, many CVs and BBs, and APs spotted -many of them!

PHILLIPINES
KB 2 one day from sailing from davao

other stuff, very soon the reinforcements arrive -I am happy to spend men freely in this 1st battle!
The operation - baby poo - is about to begin

(baby poo ) you do not want to get stuck in it!

[1275psi]

7/6/43
Finally after so long, it really looks like tabpub may be about to bite the bullet -although some thought is that its just another nibble for rennel island this time.

Which would suit me, and the plans I have perfectly
An Ak trys to get into Thursday island, a ss misses, a second one surfaces and sinks it quickly
Troops at thursday are going to be air evacuated from now on, the place has finished its usefulness.
tavoy night bombed, and a AK sunk at Vic point

Huge fleet sighted 1 hex south of rennel island
South Dak, lexington, and a AVD -which reinfoces my thought that this is a rennel island grab.
The fleet is moving very slowly too.
He strafes Timor, and i win a battle at the north Homan intersection, he is trapped at kaifeng now.
I bomb thursday.

but all the action happens near rennel
20 AM3, 24 tojo, 7 betty , 18 helen attack- 275 wildcats CAP!
What percent is that!
he loses 23 wildcats, and shoots down every attacker.
then a series of tiny trickle attacks begin
3 betty -no cap, miss the BB Indiana
3 betty/ 3 wildcats, 2 betty miss the Mississipi
2 helen are shot down
2 helen miss a LCi
he attacks GG with 60 heavies

more betty attacks -little packets, miss the mississipi.

Losses today -85 to 20 odd today

Orders
Only one front needs orders of note, from all over the empire planes are enroute.
KB2 mission to the Indian ocean is cancelled -it heads south
KB refuels at the admiralties
I stand down most planes in the solomons -he has a huge CAP trap -why immolate against it just yet. I want it to get fatigued.
Several decoy ships sail.

Home front expects 2cv, 2cvl in 8 days
3 Bbs are still repairing, as are 3CA, and 9 Dds.
2cve are resting there as well
I am so glad that the war can begin
Crossed fingers -if its rennel -Ill make it the greatest mistake he ever made! -his CVs cannot stay covering it forever -he MUST get a land base!

[1275psi]

8/6/43
The battle begins with a spectacular naval engagement![8|]
Pg Muro maru runs into BB Mississipi and new mexico and 8 DDs south of Rennel island
Spectacular!
Tabpub is concentrating his forces 1 hex south of rennel as the troops go in -its another nibble at the empire attack
2 base force, 1 AA unit and 1 RCT regiment take the un occupied island.
No shock attack, this is important to note.

The rest of the war is very quiet, I finish trapping his 2 corps in Northern China, and the front there settles down again
He did not bomb in burma today.

All over the map air groups are enroute to the solomons, all of China training groups, and all the DEI groups.
As I intend to use most fighters for LRCAP , the low experience does not matter too much -at this stage of the war even if they were in the 90s it would not matter much iether[:(][:D]

The plan for rennel:
KB just refuelled at the Admiralties -and I am totally out of fuel in the solomons for at least a week!
As it will take KB2 at least a week to get here, no problems, plenty of fuel soon to arrive though.
No need to panic, rennel is a hard place to build an A/F, and this could be a decoy!
Intention is:
Once pieces in place
Day 1
Army LBA to attack rennel -engage LRCAP from death star (no way am I playing his game of setting units to naval attack to be immolated against his uber cap)
Day 2
naval air LRCAPs the navy BBs to rennel -time for the fireworks
Day3
fast transports -CAs and 2 other veteren task forces from the last little Tabpub nibble[:'(] will counter land at rennel. They will not be able to kick him out -but now he will have to supply troops involved in a battle
Day 4
KB 1, KB 2 in a pincer attack
Day5
Release the betties, and all units attack.
Its going to be very , very bloody, and Im quite prepared to lose a lot of ships -especially BBs ect -they will be impotent once he gets further north -here at least they can lay some hurt.
troops are rushing to Rabual from Truk, and tomorrow we begin pulling out of Thursday via air, time to face the facts, he will soon be marching north.

[1275psi]

The entire battle plan of the war has been to place absolutely max strength of the Imperial forces in the solomons, and hope that tabpub strikes there.

This has happened.
the great battle that most games of WITP seem to have in mid 43 is is on the way.

I very much hope that being on my ground, being fought where I choose, will swing it enough to go my way
Finally, we have had so little war over the last 12 months , that his CV pilots have had no exposure -and no experience gained too.
maybe this will help as well!

9/6/43
BB Mississipi and new mexico naval bombard Lunga -interesting!
Little damage though!
daylight
He bombs Timor
100 liberators, 50 b17 attack Gilli, gilli
22 liberators attack Munda- 20 hits, 1 betty destroyed

And this is it for today[:D]

But much is planned for tomorrow

Burma
Little ordered today, very worried though, 50 plus ships, 34 units spotted in Rangoon![:(][:(][:(]

China
4 days until 3 new divisions arrive, the front is stable, I order a counter attack, target to re take chenting
Pahkoi troops are all but finished, well fought 104th division, vale.

DEI
Convoys, and a stream of planes transitting to the solomons
(a good reserve remains though)

Solomons
I count my planes
13 zero units, 4 tojo, 3 tony, 5 oscar, 3 helen,3 kate, 8 saly, 6 betty , 2 lilly, and 4 sonia units are committed to the battle
The navy commits 6 CV, 5 BB, and about 12 CA
The bulk of the fleet
I consider for this battle the BBs expendable -and If it can swap CV for CV, KB as well!!
Soon KB will be impotent -I am going for broke.

All these planes are moving into positions
weathet tomorrow is so, so, we will not commit tomorrow
Fuel arriving rabual tomorrow, then we can sail to destiny!

[1275psi]

10/6/43
A quiet day -dodgy weather
he continues to unload troops at rennel -and his Battle fleet remains 1 hex south, covering it

ss grouper hits a mine at entiwok[:D]
ss 174 is sunk at rennel[:(]
ss 157 surfaces at rennel -sinks a Ak -gutsy!

Gilli, Gilli is hit twice again!
Munda as well

I spend a long time plotting
Lunga - 100 zeros, 25 kates -range 3 attack!
Russel island - 60 zeros, 110 sonias, range 3 attack
Munda -90 zeros, 27 val, range 4 attack - 30 tonies CAP, 30 oscars LRCAP
Shortland fills with oscars, all on LRCAP

TF6 - 3 battle cruisers, 4 CA -recieve 100 oscar LRCAP, and charge south from rabual
TF7 - 1 BB does the same -36 LRCAP oscars
TF11 - 7 CA sail too
a CL TF sails

KB sails as well

2 ML head to lunga
a DD from Goodeneough island sails due east
CS Nissin asails from naru island
various APs leave ports at Lunga, munda to muddy the picture -flee!!!!

Tomorrow the clash -his CVs are at range 5 from Munda -i set most planes to range 4, or range 3!
Lets see what happens.[8|]

[1275psi]

11/6/43
tabpub tells me operation dry run is a go
he commits to battle, so do I!!!

1st thing, i spy his CV fleet is now on the hex due west of rennell -bummer, now range 4 to Munda[8|][8|][8|]

31 betties for the 1st time Ive ever seen night atack rennel!![X(][X(][X(]
They miss , but thats encouraging (over 80 experience these guys)
Flack claims 4

AM phase
8 avenger fail to find lunga
Lots of sightings, and my battle fleet is sighted.

usual stuff china, burma -come on, lets get to it!!!

It begins[8D]
33 dauntless, 18 avenger attack 2 AP fleeing lunga -bang, bang, bang
86 avenger,80 dive bombers, 93 wildcats attack the 2 ML at Lunga -
they are sunk of course
14 dauntles attack Munda -21 tony only shoot down 2 as they sink a pG
79 zero, 9 tony, 23 VAL from Munda attack his battle fleet (not rennel as planned) 120 wildcats on CAP!
13 val, 68 zero destroyed, 10 tony destroyed
44 wildcats destroyed
CV yorkton is missed, and missed!

Lunga launches -95 zeros, 22 kates, 18 P38 defend
54 zeros destroyed (now that is stupid), 14 P38 s/d
the kates only lose 2 -they attack -3 AK and a AP are all torpedoed.

Russel launches
60 zero, 21 sonia -76 wildcats defend
19 zero lost, 53 wildcats destroyed[:)]
19 sonias attack -the flak is murder
CV Essex -hit -armour defeats
hit -flight deck penetration!
hit - armour defeats
hit -armour defeats

pm phase
50 wildcats, 42 dive bombers, 49 avengers attack Munda field, 11 tony defend
Only 4 enemy shot down, we lose 4 planes too

Lunga attacks again
48 Zeros, 10 kates vs 10 P38 at rennel
Lost 20 zero, 4 kate, 7 p38 shot down.
Flak is the killer, the 10 kate miss the CAs they attack

Russel attacks again
40 zero, 20 sonia - 89 wildcats CAP
30 zero, 10 sonia lost, 23 wildcats shot down
10 sonia peel into dives
CVL Independence - hit -flight deck penetration
hit -flight deck penetration
hit -flight deck penetration
2 more hits!!!! -she must be in trouble1

ss triton attacks KB[X(][X(][X(] -and misses[8|]

Horrible losses today
AM3a -191
Wildcats- 124
p 38 - 29
sonia -19
val -16
tony 15
AM3 -14
betty -8
Kate -7
dauntless -5
Avenger-4

him 164 today, me, 280

next post, plans for tomorrow!

[1275psi]

Well, the majority of the imperial navy land air arm is shattered
But he must stay and fight -I hope
If he is thinking of withdrawing this turn I must force him to stay -or react even northwards

Sacrifices have to be made
Just as Yamaguchi sailed as a decoy at Leyte -CS Nissin is my decoy
As the BBs at Leyte were ordered to attack at all cost -so will mine be.
I figure this
7 enemy CVs carry what -220 -250 fighters.
maybe 300 odd
Ive shot down over half in 3 days
really I have no choice -I must continue
Why I have only encountered Wildcats is a real worry, surely these are not only CVLs?
Possibly tomorrow he intends to fly off the wildcats, and change to hellcats.
Who knows?
here are the orders for tomorrow
Cs Nissin and 2 DD charge iin from the east
a Dd from the west
TF 6 -attack rennel shipping
TF7 - attack his fleet
tf11 -wait
a small tf to lunga

Lunga -lillies and nicks and more army fighters attack
Russel -more sonia and army fighters attack -tojos enetring the war now
Shortlands - oscars and TOjos to provide the LRCAP over KB

KB -2 just off Munda -and Im putting it all on 100% attack!

The zero remnants retire to rabual -to suck my pools dry -in 2 days they will be the Betty escorts, day after tomorrow all the Army bombers go in

Tomorrow if he stays -150 to 200 wildcats vs 300 of my fighters at least.
probaly going to be a disaster -but I really hope to shock tabpub to his core with the violence of this battle

Its all smoke and mirrors folks, smoke and mirrors![8|][8|][8|]

[1275psi]

12/6/43
he called it operation Dry run
well some one ran away , thats for sure[:'(][:'(]
No night action, a single ss attack off Vigan hits a troop convoy
Thunderstorms everywhere -if he had've remained in his hex, he would have been clouded in -KB not.
My BBs were in the right hex too[8|]
 
dawn searches reveal an empty Rennel island shipping wise, and his entire fleet 4 to 6 hexes south, retiring[:@][:@][:@]
I cannot believe that mid 43 he still wont have a go -now I know for sure he is waiting for the hellcats and AA bonus.
Time ticks on, and still no allied advance.[:)]
Thursday island recieves some bombing, port moresby more
This today confirms to me that PM is the real invasion effort-time to get more troops in.
Munda is hit very heavily -and wrecked -a real spanner in the works.
 
Orders -little for the rest of the war
saesbo 7th snlf loads at Lunga for rennel via fast transports
21 div at Shortland loads onto tanaka 6 CA, same destination
Shortland will try to strike with helens
russel will LRCAP it with Tojos
Tonies will CAP lunga
KB will CAP Munda to give it a chance to rebuild - 100 oscars will also do the same
BB mushia and 2 CA will bombard
BB nagato, 2 CA will bombard
BB Hiei, Kirishima, Kongo, 4 CA will also bombard
a large convoy is coming, at rabual with a division onboard -it is ordered south
Crippled groups go to Truk to rebuild, and many navy bombers re orientate slowly to PNG -Ill be ready for that!
Getting troops slowly out of thursday, dribbles by air, have to rest them today
Lots of Thunderstorms tomorrow, if he turns around its going to be a disaster.
nevertheless Tokyo rose is going to crow -a tactical victory, I hope I have made a very cautious player even more cautious
2 CV, 2cvl in 3 days, major troops in 2 arrive.
I reckon at this rate I can hold up to rabual by very late 43.
thats OK I think.